The Local Lowdown – January 2018

MARY WHITFIELD BURKS, A SCHERTZ RESIDENT SINCE 1965, now has a city park at 3175 Schertz Parkway named after her. On Dec. 12, City Council said the title honors Burks’ long service to the town. The park will feature seating, a water fountain and exercise equipment. A naming ceremony will be announced soon.

A REPLACEMENT BRIDGE AT LOWER SEGUIN ROAD IN SCHERTZ is open. City officials gathered Dec. 21 to celebrate the structure’s debut, built after an earlier one was deemed unsafe due to severe erosion where it crossed Cibolo Creek. City Council approved the demolition and reconstruction in December 2016, with an estimated cost of $440,000. Schertz and Cibolo share the crossing.

GARAGE SALE PERMITS are NO LONGER NEEDED IN SCHERTZ, however, other restrictions still apply. Those include: No more than four garage sales annually, hours are 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., two signs allowed per sale and must not exceed 3 square feet in size, placards to be posted no more than 24 hours before a sale and removed with 24 hours after the event, signs can’t be placed in a right of way, property owners must OK placement of signs on their private lots or areas, and postings are prohibited along FM 3009, FM 1103, FM 78, FM 1518 and Schertz Parkway. For more, call the city’s Inspections Department at 210-619-1750. For complaints regarding sale violations, call Code Enforcement at 210-619-1200.

RESIDENTS AND LOCAL OFFICIALS CELEBRATED the opening of the Historic Evans Road Hike & Bike Trail in Selma Nov. 18. The pathway follows the route of the original Evans Road and goes through Stage Stop Park, a part of the Forest Creek subdivision and the Harrison House property. There are two parts of the trail: One runs from the Harrison property to the Stage Stop Visitor’s Center, and another stretches from FM 1518 from Stage Stop Park, down through Cibolo Creek and up to FM 1518 Park.

JUDSON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT CHLOE BAYANI WAS CHOSEN as Judson Independent School District’s 2018 Fiesta medal winner by the Judson Education Foundation. Officials received more than 40 entries; the top three garnered Best Buy gift certificates courtesy of Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union. Judson Middle School’s Alexis Malone and Judson High’s Felix Velasquez were awarded third and second place, respectively. JEF is taking preorders for the medals until Jan. 31 for $7; afterwards $8. Medals go out in March for April’s Fiesta. Orders can be placed at jef.revtrak.net/fiesta-medal/.

LISA NEWMAN IS THE NEW PRINCIPAL at Steele Enhanced Learning Center, with the retirement of Julie Knox, officials said. Newman, a 24-year educator, has been principal the last five years at Sippel Elementary School.

LEHNHOFF STADIUM ACCESS WILL BE RESTRICTED through Feb. 28 to install new turf. Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City Independent School District approved the recommendation for resurfacing at a meeting Nov. 14. The stadium is at 1100 Elbel Road in Schertz.

CONGRESS RECENTLY AUTHORIZED THE RENAMING of the Converse postal facility at 9155 Schaefer Road to Converse Veterans Post Office Building, according to an announcement from U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar.